Fashola Reaffirms Plans On 4,800MW Nuclear Energy

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has reaffirmed that there is no going back on Nigeria’s quest for 4,800MW from nuclear technology by the year 2035. He said government was working hard to diversify its energy mix beyond the traditional sources of gas, oil and hydro to include nuclear and other renewable sources like solar, biomass and wind.

Fashola lauded the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and its team of experts for the research works and human capacity building efforts in this specialised field, urging it not to relent in the crusade of making Nigerians deploy safe use of the technology.

“You must begin to break down the seeming complex issues around nuclear power into simple terms and language that our people can understand, we must try to demystify issues around nuclear power in Nigeria,” he said, adding that the nation cannot afford to be left behind in the acquisition of appropriate nuclear technologies.

The minister added that Nigeria had developed a comprehensive nuclear law currently awaiting legislative inputs at the National Assembly. He noted that the procurement activities for the first nuclear power plant with generation capacity of 1,200MW of power to the national grid by 2025 would be done as scheduled.

The two sites selected by the commission are located in Geregu in Ajaokuta Local Council of Kogi State and Itu council area Akwa-Ibom State.